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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)In a move as cool as it was classy, President Trump recently wrote a letter to the family of fallen Norton Shores Police Officer Jonathan Ginka."Melania and I join your family, friends, loved ones, and the Norton Shores community in honoring Jonathan," Trump said.Posting a picture of the letter, Michael Pollack, a friend of the Ginka family, praised President Trump for reaching out."Wow! Think what you want about the guy, but for the President of the United States to send a personal message...addressed to a dear friend of my friends and family in a tiny little, unknown town in Michigan (my hometown) sure does say a lot." Pollack said."Routine or not--I never knew they did this for local police--very cool. And, yes--the policy, the orders, the thought are all 100% initiated from the President of the United States. Had this been sent from Nixon, Clinton, Obama or any other I would be saying the same...it's a very nice gesture," Pollack continued.Not a single media outlet has bothered to cover this story! :( Doesn't fit their narrative...>>>View the full letter below:

__________________________________________________________________Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)State Rep. Tommy Brann says it's time to increase the age to legally purchase tobacco in Michigan from 18 to 21.Defending the proposed legislation in a heated Facebook discussion, Brann says changing the law is the right decision."My bar and restaurant is a blue collar business. I see my young people making mistakes on smoking. I thought I was suppose to bring my life experiences to Lansing," Brann said. "My human side ---I see my young people hurting themselves and we all know smoking is bad for you. I am just raising the age to drinking age. Ok my business side ----we have 1.36 billion of Medicade costs in our state because of smoking so it means less government if we raise the age. On my governance side ----article IV section 51 the public health and general welfare of the people of the state are hereby declared to be matters of primary public concern. The legislation shall pass suitable laws for the protection and promotion of the public health. I took an oath Last ---I think it will save lives and the young people who do not start smoking will have more time to enjoy freedom."Others disagreed."(T)here are lots of dangerous things in this world, many that I like to do (I'm a big fan of swimming, which kills thousands of people each year, and driving a car, which kills tens of thousands). Adults can make decisions about their own bodies," wrote Jarrett Skorup of the Mackinac Center.

Conservative activist and former State House candidate Angela Rigas said "While smoking is so bad for you, I just don't think we need another law to 'help' people make wise choices."

"This prohibition on under age smokers will not work any more than the drug war we are losing," said Chuck Bates. "I have seen bills being introduced to help heroin overdoses, heroin is illegal and yet ODs are going up. My point is that this type of legislation will have little impact. For the record in the interactions I have had with Tommy he has always struck me as a very good man. I just disagree with this.">>>Read the debate and give your thoughts HERE__________________________________________________________________Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)A secretive plan to change Michigan Republican Party rules and strip delegates of the power to choose the Lt. Governor nominee is causing controversy.

The change will be debated by the MIGOP Policy Committee at a meeting Monday night, June 26th.

If passed, it would head to the full State Committee for final approval. (Emails of Policy Committee members are below, please reach out and have your voice heard ASAP!)

The possible change comes after Lt. Gov. Brian Calley faced fierce competition for the nomination two different times.

In 2010, he was challenged by West Michigan businessman Bill Cooper. In 2014, he battled Livingston County engineer Wes Nakagiri. Calley prevailed on both occasions.

State Committeeman Matt Hall is on the Policy Committee and has been leading the fight against the proposal."The State Party staff is now telling us that multiple unnamed state committee members requested the change preventing the delegates from having a voice in deciding the LG nominee," Hall said in a Facebook statement. "This is my third term on the committee, and I do not recall the State Party ever inserting a substantive rule change into the draft in this manner. The State Party has clarified that they are supposedly not endorsing this change, but now the burden is on the policy committee members to fight to get it out."

According to MIRS, Lt. Gov. Calley is also against the move while some close to Attorney General Schuette lean toward supporting stripping delegates of the power to have a voice in the LG selection process.

"Interestingly, the person most affected by the current system, Calley, wrote on Facebook today that he doesn't favor the change. Having competition forced him to ask precinct delegates for their support, which allowed him to recruit delegates to participate in the process.

"It was a healthy electoral process that made me a stronger Lt Governor. We won everything in 2014 and won the state again in 2016." Calley wrote. “The current process has worked well for decades and I see no reason to change it."

While not "rock solid" on the changes, Policy Committee member Judi SCHWALBACH of the 1st District said she sees a lot of sense in making sure that the gubernatorial nominee is paired with someone with whom he or she is comfortable.

If the party selects someone other than the nominee's preference, the party could be setting itself up for a bad arranged marriage-like situation where the ticket is picked apart for the candidates' potential differences on various policy positions.

"The Lieutenant Governor has to be on the same page as the Governor," said Schwalbach, an Upper Peninsula constituent relations director for Attorney General Bill Schuette."

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)Detroit area businesswoman and former Michigan Trump Campaign Co-Chair Lena Epstein says Bob Young needs to get tough on sanctuary cities.Epstein has launched her campaign to run for US Senate against Debbie Stabenow. Young says he is running, but has not made it official yet....According to Conservative Intel:

"Epstein says that she “unapologetically supports President Donald Trump, and will defund sanctuary cities and work to build the wall.”

Young, the former Michigan Supreme Court Justice, is expected to announce his candidacy soon, but has not yet done so.

“I challenge Justice Young to clarify where he stands on these critical issues,” Epstein said in her statement released with the video.

Epstein also alluded to Young not being the type of candidate citizens are looking for, since he’s carved out much of his career as an elected official, like Democratic opponent Debbie Stabenow.

“Debbie Stabenow and Bob Young combine 65 years in elective office. Voters are looking for outsiders — real world business leaders — job creators with firsthand perspective into the ways federal government has underserved American citizens and businesses for far too long.”

Many conservatives and supporters of Donald Trump in Michigan agree with this sentiment. Even political pundit Bill Ballenger came out early in saying the former Trump co-chair could be Stabenow’s toughest opponent to date.

“She’s a skilled public speaker, and she’s an outsider who can lambaste ‘The System’ and Stabenow’s role in it,” Bill Ballenger said to MIRS News. “Epstein takes any gender issue off the table. She has the potential to be the toughest Republican Stabenow has ever faced in her 42-year career in elective office.”

She’s now standing strong with President Trump and his immigration plan, one of the top issues liberals and Democrats have been speaking out against and protesting since Trump announced his candidacy for president two years ago."

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)Sources tell WMP former Governor John Engler will play a major role in former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bob Young's US Senate campaign.Engler will reportedly be a key adviser to Young behind the scenes, helping him manage the campaign.Young announced he will be a candidate last week at a Republican breakfast in Midland...Engler appointed Young to the Michigan Supreme Court in the early 90's, and the two are said to be close friends. They also apparently live in the same neighborhood.Young will face businesswoman Lena Epstein, also a Co-Chair of the Michigan Trump campaign, for the right to battle Sen. Debbie Stabenow in November of 2018. The primary will be held in August of that year. No other candidates have announced so far...__________________________________________________________________Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

A new law proposed by State House members Steve Marino, Tommy Brann, Julie Calley, Kimberly LaSata, and Jim Lilly would increase filing fees for State House and State Senate by 300%.

Currently, the cost is $100, but if the bill becomes law, Michiganders looking to serve in the legislature would have to pay $400 to get on the ballot in lieu of gathering signatures.

Below is an excerpt of the proposal:

"In lieu of filing a nominating petition, a NONREFUNDABLE filing fee of $100.00 $400.00 may be paid to the county clerk or, for a candidate in a district comprising more than 1 county, to the secretary of state."

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)The Michigan House has passed State Rep. Steve Marino's legislation increasing local municipalities access to money for disaster relief when they need it the most.Marino's bill increases the amount of money available to local governments via a special fund they can utilize when they are hit with an unexpected crisis and need help.The previous minimum for the total amount available in the fund was $1,000,000-it's now $2.5 million.The bill passed 102-5...You can read it HERE.It now heads to the Senate, where if passed, will head to Gov. Snyder's desk to be signed into law. Snyder is said to be in favor of the change.The bill is Marino's first piece of legislation to pass as a rookie legislator."Excited to have my first bill pass the Michigan House of Representatives," Marino said in a Facebook statement. "A special thanks goes out to my colleague, State Representative Diana Farrington, for her hard work on this issue and passing a related bill to ensure more adequate funding for disasters in our local communities."Marino, a former Macomb County Commissioner, prevailed last year despite a sickening dirty trick spin campaign from Brandon Dillon and Michigan Dems, as well as their allies, such as Progress Michigan.Congrats. Steve!

__________________________________________________________________Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)Lt. Governor Brian Calley's campaign to amend the Michigan Constitution to enact a part time legislature and cut legislator pay in half is on hold while the committee works to address roadblocks from Attorney General Bill Schuette.The committee was scheduled to get final approval of its language from the State Board of Canvassers Wednesday, but that has been rescheduled while Calley's team works to address last minute objections from Schuette.According to the chief legal counsel for Clean MI Government, John Pirich (one of the most respected and highest rated lawyers in Michigan) Schuette is questioning the legality of the proposal."We were just informed today that the Attorney General’s office has raised various questions, including with respect to the impact of the provision requiring the legislature to meet for no more than 90 days consecutively," Pirich said in a statement this evening.

Pirich notes no objections were raised to a previous proposal in 2014.

"Yet in 2014, a petition seeking a part time legislature, which would have required the legislature not to meet more than 60 days consecutively, was approved as to form by the Board of Canvassers," Pirich said. "The same action should occur regarding the part-time legislature proposal at issue. "

Pirich is confident the group will prevail over Schuette's objections."Regardless, we look forward to discussing the issues raised by the Attorney General’s office and answering any questions they may have," Pirich said. "We are prepared to address these issues and will request the State Board of Canvassers to reconvene and immediately approve the form of the petition as is because it satisfies all the legal requirements of the Michigan Election Law."

Michigan Conservative Coalition leader Matt Maddock believes the objections could be related to the fact that Calley's group is much more likely to succeed in getting the issue on the ballot than previous efforts.

"Something fishy going on with the Part-Time Legislature Ballot Proposal. Schuette might be trying to stop it using his position of Attorney General," Maddock said. "In 2014, essentially the same language (60 days vs 90 days) was approved by the board of canvassers with no "issues" raised by Schuette. However there's a big difference between 2014 and 2017. Funding. There is enough funding to get it done this year and there wasn't in 2014."

Maddock said things could get "ugly."

"This will get VERY ugly if Schuette tries to stop this," Maddock said.

Former RNC Committeeman Dave Agema backs the proposal. He questioned Schuette's motives in objecting to the proposal.

"OUR PTL WAS APPROVED WHEN WE TRIED IN 2014," Agema said. "I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT A PART TIME LEGISLATURE. THE FACT THAT SCHUETTE IS QUESTIONING IT TELLS ONE HE DOES NOT REALLY SUPPORT A PTL."

Schuette's objections come just a day after his polling firm, Target Point Consulting, polled Republican voters on the issue and its relation to the Governor's race...

WMP received multiple reports of people being polled by the company yesterday.

Stay tuned!

__________________________________________________________________Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)According to a new poll from Mitchell Communications, Lt. Governor Brian Calley has cut into Attorney General Bill Schuette's lead, cutting a margin of over 20% down to a dead heat.Schuette leads Calley 23% to 19%, well within the poll's 4.7% margin of error-that's a statistical tie.Schuette had led by over 30% to Calley's 11% a couple months ago, but the new numbers seem to indicate a tightening race as the August 2018 primary draws closer.Calley may be seeing help in the polls from his new campaign to cut legislator pay and turn Michigan into a part time legislature. Nearly 80% of Republican primary voters support the change, and 2/3 polled say it makes the LG a more attractive candidate.One interesting facet of the poll: former Congresswoman and current Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller would enter the race ahead of Schuette if she decides to jump in.State Senator Patrick Colbeck was not included in the poll, which was conducted just before he entered the race late last week...According to MIRS:"In a hypothetical four-way contest that also includes Saginaw Dr. Jim HINES, Miller received 21 percent support of the 435 Republican primary voters contacted Wednesday by Mitchell Research and Communications.

After the brief bios, all three are within the +/- 4.7 percent margin of error -- Schuette 23 percent, Miller 20 percent and Calley 19 percent.

Without Miller in the race, Schuette is at 21 percent, Calley 16 percent, Hines 1 percent and a 62 percent majority undecided.

Of those who answered the polling questions, 92 percent said they were "definitely" voting in the August 2018 gubernatorial primary election and 6 percent said they were "probably" voting. The other 2 percent were not sure, yet."__________________________________________________________________Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

Monday, June 5, 2017

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)The terrorist behind the London Bridge attack last weekend in London was radicalized by a controversial Dearborn Imam, Ahmad Musa Jibril, who is known for ties to ISIS and Al Qaeda.A friend of the killer tried to warn British authorities, but they did nothing.

Sickening-and right here in "Pure Michigan," NUTS! Where is Attorney General Bill Schuette and Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy on this?!

"A Dearborn cleric popular among Islamic State extremists helped radicalize one of the terror suspects in the London attacks that killed seven people Saturday, according to reports.

According to the Telegraph, a former friend of one of the three dead suspects claimed one of the attackers had been radicalized while watching Dearborn cleric Ahmad Musa Jibril’s YouTube videos and said he contacted authorities after becoming concerned over his friend’s extremist views.

The friend, who was not identified at the request of police, told the BBC’s Asian Network: “We spoke about a particular attack that happened and like most radicals he had a justification for anything and everything and that day I realized I needed to contact the authorities.”

He added: “He used to listen to a lot of Musa Jibril. I have heard some of this stuff and it’s very radical. I am surprised this stuff is still on YouTube and is easily accessible. I phoned the anti-terror hotline. I spoke to the gentleman. I told him about our conversation and why I think he was radicalized.”

The suspected attacker was not arrested and was allowed to keep his passport."

The Dearborn Imam is radical Islamic extremist popular among terrorists. He has influenced multiple people to fight on behalf of ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other organizations.Jibril spent 8 years in federal prison for numerous charges, but was released in 2014.Since then, he has used the internet to preach hateful, radical messages out of his Dearborn home and mosque. His videos are posted by supporters, as he has had his social media access restricted by the US government.According to Newsweek:

"Jibril preaches a Salafist version of Islam, one of the most conservative strands of the religion and the ideology from which members of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda derive their beliefs.

Jibril has not posted since 2014, when U.S. authorities limited his use of social media, but his supporters continue to post and share his content online. Security experts had identified Jibril as one of the most influential online recruiters for ISIS at the beginning of the group’s rise.

The London-based International Center for the Study of Radicalization (ICSR) found in a 2014 report that Jibril, in his early 40s, was one of the most influential preachers among foreign fighter networks sending radical Islamists to Syria.

Jibril praised Syrian rebels during the civil war, becoming a “cheerleader” for armed Islamists in the conflict, according to the ICSR report. He speaks fluent English so could communicate with clarity to Muslim audiences in Western countries. ICSR found that 60 percent of foreign fighters it tracked in 2014 followed Jibril on Twitter."

Stay tuned...

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Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.

By Brandon Hall(Email Him At WestMIPolitics@Gmail.com)10th Congressional District Republican Party Chairman Stan Grot hosted the group's annual fundraising dinner recently, and Grot brought RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel back to Michigan to keynote the event.Ronna and Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard were greeted with big league applause during their speeches.Ronna talked about what it has been like to transition from Michigan to DC, work with the Trump family, and also gave an update on the 2018 election.Ronna emphasized the importance of delivering President Trump another two years with a Republican Congress, with a special focus on Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow."2018 can be the year we finally retire Debbie Stabenow," Ronna said. She also committed to making sure the Republican Senate nominee in Michigan will have the resources they need from the RNC to make that happen.House Speaker Tom Leonard also spoke, giving an update on various pieces of legislation making their way through Lansing. Leonard says the constitutional-carry legislation ending the need for licenses to conceal a gun is "228 years overdue."Leonard also talked about his decision to put up an income tax vote when he knew it would probably fail. He says he has no regrets about fighting for less taxes and more limited government.Other speakers included Rep. Paul Mitchell, Linda Lee Tarver of the Republican Women's Federation of Michigan, and former 1st District Vice Chair Crystal Grantham.

Grot, left, Leonard, right (Photo by DarKen Photography)

__________________________________________________________________Brandon Hall is a lifelong political nerd from Grand Haven, and is the Managing Editor of West Michigan Politics.